Quote:

---

A cause clear as Glass
Actor takes role in African American Museum future

By ASHLEY SCHNEIDER Courier & Press staff writer 464-7503 or schneidera@courierpress.com
July 10, 2004

Somewhere along the horseshoe-shaped bend in the Ohio River that separates Evansville from Henderson, Ky., Ron Glass learned to water ski.

Looking out at the river from a window at the Petroleum Club on the 17th floor of the Old National Bank Building, with traditional African music pulsing in the background, Glass, best known for his role in the sitcom "Barney Miller," remembered his life growing up in Evansville.

On Friday evening, the University of Evansville graduate was honored with a reception at the Petroleum Club and named honorary chairman of the Evansville African American Museum.

Glass will help kick off the museum's $1.5 million fund-raising Capital Campaign, to cover renovation of the museum's proposed new building in Lincoln Gardens.

Glass said he hopes the museum will help remind the community of how important the African-American culture has been in building and strengthening Evansville, particularly in the Lincoln Avenue area, which was at one time considered the mecca of black culture.

"I really hope that (the museum) will be an oasis of culture and peace," Glass said, "and that not only Evansville, but the surrounding cities, will all recognize and celebrate and glory in the diversity that is this community."

James Mosley, president of EnviroKinetics Inc. and museum fund-raising coordinator, said the fund-raising efforts will feature two waves - a precampaign program and the actual fund-raiser.

Mosley said the organization hopes to raise $800,000 in 16 months as part of the precampaign program. An earlier feasibility study outlined 25 of the organization's biggest contributors, and Mosley said the museum board will focus many of their efforts on those contributors in the precampaign program.

The actual fund-raising campaign will focus on local businesses and organizations and the community at large.

"Mostly, we're looking to increase our awareness and overall presence in the community," Mosley said. "We're excited with the number of possibilities open to this museum once we get off the ground."

Museum founder and president Sondra Matthews said she wants the museum to become a landmark in Evansville and the Tri-state area.

Matthews said preserving African-American history in Evansville is crucial in educating younger generations.

"Some 25 years from now, if we don't have a museum, our grandchildren will never believe that we were here," she said. "This is our opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of blacks in Evansville."

Although the goal is to raise $1.5 million, the organization will likely need more funding to cover the costs of steel, construction over-runs and other complications, Matthews said.

"We truly need the support of the community if we want to accomplish this goal," she said.

Glass said he was honored to be named honorary chairman of the museum, and hopes the museum will have a deep impact on the Tri-State area.

"It is my deep desire that each of us and each person who is able to visit the museum and experience it, will come to experience and find a fresh personal commitment in a one-on-one kind of way," he said.

Mamie Dowell and Yvette Payne were also honored at the ceremony. Both women donated $1,500 to the museum board to obtain lifetime membership, becoming the first two people to obtain such status.

Glass was again honored at the end of the ceremony with a surprise birthday celebration. The actor is 59 today.

---